entente cordiale: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Historical, Diplomatic
Quick answer
What does “entente cordiale” mean?
A friendly understanding and informal agreement between states, especially the historic one between Britain and France in 1904.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A friendly understanding and informal agreement between states, especially the historic one between Britain and France in 1904.
Any state of close, harmonious cooperation, mutual understanding, or unofficial alliance between two parties, especially in diplomatic, political, or international contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in meaning, but the phrase has greater historical resonance and slightly more common use in British English due to its significance in Anglo-French relations.
Connotations
Both carry connotations of diplomacy, historical significance, and high-level international relations. In the US, it may sound more overtly academic or historical.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, but slightly higher in British political/historical commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “entente cordiale” in a Sentence
The [Country A] and [Country B] entente cordialeAn entente cordiale between X and YTo establish/maintain/foster an entente cordialeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “entente cordiale” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The two nations sought to *entente cordiale* their differences, though no treaty was signed.
- They managed to *entente cordiale* after years of rivalry.
American English
- The administrations hoped to *entente cordiale* their trade dispute through back-channel talks.
adverb
British English
- The leaders cooperated *entente-cordially* on the issue.
- They settled the matter *entente-cordially*.
American English
- The departments began to work *entente-cordially* after the merger was called off.
adjective
British English
- The *entente-cordial* relations paved the way for the summit.
- An *entente-cordial* atmosphere prevailed.
American English
- Their *entente-cordial* agreement avoided a costly legal battle.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used metaphorically for a close, cooperative partnership between two rival firms that avoids a formal merger. (e.g., 'The two tech giants reached an entente cordiale on patent sharing.')
Academic
Common in historical and political science texts discussing 20th-century European diplomacy and international relations.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used humorously or ironically to describe a truce between friends, colleagues, or family members.
Technical
Specific term in diplomatic history and international relations theory, denoting a specific type of informal interstate agreement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “entente cordiale”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “entente cordiale”
- Using it to mean a formal, written treaty. Using it for internal domestic politics. Misspelling as 'entente cordial' (missing the 'e').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When referring specifically to the 1904 Anglo-French agreement, it is often capitalised as the 'Entente Cordiale'. When used as a general term for a friendly understanding, it is usually in lowercase.
Only in a metaphorical, often humorous or ironic way, as it is fundamentally a diplomatic term. (e.g., 'My flatmate and I have an entente cordiale about washing up.')
An 'entente cordiale' is a positive, friendly understanding, often building relations. 'Détente' is specifically a thawing or easing of tensions between adversaries, moving from hostility towards a less strained relationship.
Yes, but infrequently and usually in a historical or deliberately evocative context. Journalists and commentators might use it to describe a notably improved but informal state of relations between two states.
A friendly understanding and informal agreement between states, especially the historic one between Britain and France in 1904.
Entente cordiale is usually formal, historical, diplomatic in register.
Entente cordiale: in British English it is pronounced /ɒnˌtɒnt kɔːˈdjaːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɑnˌtɑnt ˌkɔrˈdjɑl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Spirit of the entente cordiale”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ENTENTE' sounds like 'intent' - a shared *intent* to be 'CORDIALe' (friendly).
Conceptual Metaphor
INTERSTATE RELATIONS ARE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS (friendship, understanding).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes an 'entente cordiale' from a formal alliance?